GB2519764A

GB2519764A - Cover for a reservoir of an engine

Info

Publication number: GB2519764A
Application number: GB1319080.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Poar
Original assignee: Caterpillar Shrewsbury Ltd
Current assignee: Caterpillar Shrewsbury Ltd
Priority date: 2013-10-29
Filing date: 2013-10-29
Publication date: 2015-05-06
Also published as: GB201319080D0; CN204223449U

Abstract

A cover 114 for a reservoir 112 of an engine (fig 1, 100) comprising a top surface 120 and plural sidewalls 122, 124, 126, 128 defining an open base 130, a first separator 134 having a first inlet 132 and a first outlet 139 and a second separator 150 having a second inlet 146 and a second outlet 170, the first separator configured to separate entrained gas from a first fluid and the second configured to separate liquid from a second fluid. The first separator comprises a sloping passage 140 defining a tapering flow path with an opening extending the length of the sloping passage and the passage slopes down towards the first inlet. The second separator comprises a generally U shaped passage where one limb 156 of the passage contains obstacles 160 which extend from the upper and lower walls of the passage defining an undulating flow path, the other limb 158 including a filtering means 168, the U shaped passage may include plural holes (fig 4, 164) in a portion of its lower wall (fig4, 154).

Description

COVER FOR A RESERVOIR OF AN ENGINE

Technical Field

10001] The present disclosure relates to a cover, and more specifically to a cover for a reservoir of an engine.

BackQround 10002] Oil may be collected from various components of an engine and transferred to an oil reservoir through an oil sump. During operation of the engine, this oil may be re-circulated from the oil reservoir to the various components of the engine for the purpose of lubrication. As the oil flows into the oil reservoir, air may be entrained therein. The entrained air may cause cavitation, reduced lubricating efficiency, reduction in oil temperature, and other detrimental effects if not separated from the oil prior to the re-circulation.

Conventional oil reservoirs do not provide an air or liquid separator functionality.

10003] Hence, there is a need for an improved lubrication system which provides for separation of the entrained air that would otherwise detriment operation of the engine if re-circulated.

Summary of the Disclosure

10004] In one aspect of the present disclosure, a cover is provided for a reservoir of an engine. The cover includes a top surface. A plurality of sidewalls extends from the top surface configured to define a bottom open end. A first separator arrangement is provided in the cover. The first separator arrangement includes a first inlet and a first outlet. The first inlet is configured to receive a first fluid. The first separator arrangement is configured for separation of entrained gas from the first fluid. The cover also includes a second separator arrangement. The second separator arrangement includes a second inlet and a second outlet. The second inlet is configured to receive a second fluid. The second separator arrangement is configured for separation of liquid particles from the second fluid.

100051 Other features and aspects of this disclosure will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

100061 Figure 1 is a perspective view of an exemp'ary engine, according to an

embodiment of the present disclosure;

100071 Figure 2 is a cut-away perspective view of a cover employed in the exemplary engine of Figure 1; 100081 Figure 3 isa sectional view of the cover sectioned along A-A' of Figure 1; 100091 Figure 4 is a sectional view of the cover sectioned along B-B' of Figure 1; and 100101 Figure 5 is a top view of the cover with a top surface of the cover removed therefrom.

Detailed Description

100111 Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or the like parts. Referring to Figure 1, a perspective view of an exemplary engine 100 is illustrated. The engine 100 may be any internal combustion engine powered by fuel such as, but not limited to, gasoline, diesel, natural gas and/or a combination thereof In one embodiment, the engine 100 may be used in stationary applications, such as, to drive a generator set. In another embodiment, the engine 100 may be used in mobile applications such as, but not limited to, locomotives, construction machines, and automobiles.

100121 In an exemplary embodiment as shown in Figure 1, the engine 100 may be employed to operate in a substantially inclined or horizontal orientation.

Alternatively, the engine 100 may be vertically oriented. The engine W0 may include a cylinder block 102 having one or more cylinders therein (not shown).

The cylinder block 102 may include a number of cylinders configured to receive pistons of a piston-connecting rod assembly.

100131 The engine 100 may further include a gear case 104 coupled to the cylinder block 102. The gear case 104 may be located on a side portion 110 of the cylinder block 102. The gear case 104 may be configured to house and/or support various components of a gear train (not shown) including, but not limited to, gears and shafts. As shown in Figure 1, the gear case 104 may be affixed to the cylinder block 102 by any known means such as, bolting, riveting, welding and so on. However, in an alternative embodiment, the gear case 104 may be formed integral with the cylinder block 102.

100141 The engine 100 may further include an oil sump 106 connected at a lower portion 108 of the cylinder block 102 and in fluid communication with the gear case 104. Further, in various embodiments of the present disclosure, the engine 100 may include one or more pumps (not shown) associated with and disposed within the oil sump 106 and/or the gear case 104. During operation, a first fluid, such as, lubricating oil, may flow from a cylinder head of the engine through the gear case 104 and into the oil sump 106. In one embodiment, this first fluid may contain entrained gases. As shown in Figure 1, the oil sump 106 may be a separate component from the cylinder block 102 and may be secured to the cylinder block 102 by commonly known means such as, bolting, riveting, welding or any combination thereof However, in an alternative embodiment, the oil sump 106 may be formed integral with the cylinder block 102.

100151 The engine 100 further includes a crankcase (not shown). A second fluid may be employed within the crankcase. This second fluid may primarily include gas and a relatively small quantity of liquid particles, such as, oil, mixed therein. An oil reservoir 112 is disposed in fluid communication with the oil sump 106, the gear case 104 and the crankcase of the engine 100. The oil reservoir 112 may be configured to receive, store, and supply a volume of the oil separated out from the first and second fluids to the cylinders of the engine 100.

100161 A cover 114 for the oil reservoir 112 is disclosed herein. The cover 114 may be in fluid communication with the oil sump 106, the crankcase and the oil reservoir 112 of the engine 100. Explanation pertaining to a structure of the cover 114 and its functioning will be made hereinafter. In an embodiment as shown in Figure 1, the cover 114 may be configured to be attached atop of the oil reservoir 112 of the engine 100. The attachment of the cover 114 to the oil reservoir 112 may be accomplished by fastening a pair of co-aligned flanges 116, 118 formed in the cover 114 and the oil reservoir 112 respectively. However, in other embodiments the cover 114 may be attached by other methods commonly known in the art such as, but not limited to, clamping.

100171 In one embodiment, the cover 114 disclosed herein may be made from a metal such as, but not limited to, cast iron, aluminum, stainless steel, or any other type of metal commonly known in the art. In another embodiment, the cover 114 may be made from a polymer, for example, poly-urethane, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), neoprene, silicone, or other types of polymers commonly known in the art. The type of material used to form the cover 114 is merely exemplary in nature and hence, non-limiting of this disclosure. Therefore, a person having ordinary skill in the art may acknowledge that the type of material used to form the cover 114 may change depending on various factors such as, but not limited to, temperature, pressure, and other specific factors of an application.

100181 The cover 114 includes a top surface 120, and a plurality of sidewalls 122, 124, 126, 128. In the current embodiment as shown in Figure 1, the cover 114 may include four sidewalls -a first sidewall 122, a second sidewall 124, a third sidewall 126, and a fourth sidewall 128. Referring to Figure 2, the sidewalls 122, 124, 128 (only first, second, and fourth sidewalls shown in cutaway view of Figure 2) extend from the top surface 120 to define a bottom open end 130. The cover 114 further includes a first inlet 132 disposed in fluid communication with the oil sump 106 (see to Figure 1). The cover 114 is configured to receive the first fluid from the oil sump 106. In one embodiment, a pumping means may be located within the oil sump 106 or in association with the oil sump 106 in order to scavenge and deliver the first fluid from the gear ease 104 through the oil sump 106 and into the first inlet 132 of the cover 114. As explained earlier, the first fluid includes oil having entrained gas therein.

100191 The cover 114 further includes a first separator arrangement 134 configured to separate the entrained gas from the first fluid. The first separator arrangement 134 includes a ramp 136. As shown in Figure 2, the ramp 136 is located along the first sidewall 122 such that the ramp 136 may begin proximal to the first inlet 132 at the bottom open end 130 of the cover 114 and terminate at the second sidewall 124. In an embodiment, a distance between the ramp 136 and the top surface 120 may decrease as the distance from the first inlet 132 increases.

100201 The first separator arrangement 134 further includes a first wall 138 extending upwardly from the ramp 136 and terminating partway between the ramp 136 and the top surface 120 of the cover 114, such that the ramp 136 defines an opening within the cover 114. This opening further defines a first outlet 139 within the cover. As shown in Figure 2, the first wall 138 may be spaced apart from the first sidewall 122 by a width Wi of the ramp 136. The first wall 138, the ramp 136, and the first sidewall 122 may define a sloping passagel40 within the cover 114. The sloping passage 140 is disposed in fluid communication with the first inlet 132 and defines a tapering flow path for the first fluid within the cover 114. The sloping passage 140 is configured to hold a volume of the first fluid entering the ramp 136 from the first inlet 132.

100211 During operation, the first fluid may be forced into the sloping passage 140 by the pump. As a volume of the first fluid contained in the sloping passage 140 increases, the first fluid may flow over the first wall 138, through the first outlet 139, and further fall into the oil reservoir 112. The sloping passage provides an increased flow path for the first fluid within the cover 114. Also, the first wall 138 and the ramp 136 obstruct the flow of the first fluid, causing a reduction in velocity of the flow. This in turn provides additional time for the entrained gas in the first fluid to be separated therefrom. The direction of flow of the first fluid is shown by arrows in Figure 2.

100221 In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the inclination of the ramp 136 with respect to the first inlet 132 may be so chosen such that when the engine 100 is stopped, the first fluid may flow backwards through the first inlet 132 and enter into the pump for priming purposes. This self-priming technique may assist in reducing overall costs associated with construction of the engine 100. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the cover 114 is disposed in fluid communication with an outlet line 144 of the crankcase. Any known pumping means may be associated with the crankcase such that the second fluid may be forced out of the crankcase and into the outlet line 144.

10023] Figure 3 illustrates a view of the cover 114 along section A-A' as shown in Figure 1. The cover 114 further includes a second inlet 146 in a co-aligned and abutting relation to the outlet line 144. The second inlet 146 is configured to receive the second fluid from the crankcase via the outlet line 144.

As explained earlier, the second fluid includes gas containing the liquid particles suspended therein. As indicated by the arrows, the second fluid flows through the outlet line 144, into the second inlet 146 and further into the cover 114.

Figure 4 illustrates a view of the cover 114 sectioned along B-B' of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a top view of the cover with the top surface 120 removed. Various components of the cover 114 will be hereinafter explained with combined reference to Figures 4 and 5 or individual references to one of Figures 4 and 5.

10024] Referring to Figures 4 and 5, the cover 114 further includes a second separator arrangement 150 disposed in fluid communication with the second inlet 146. The second separator arrangement 150 is configured to separate the liquid particles from the second fluid. As best seen in Figure 5, the second separator arrangement 150 includes a second wall 151 and a third wall 152. The second and third walls 151, 152 are illustrated as a pair of concurrent curvilinear walls in the accompanying figures; such that the second wall 151 extends around the third wall 152 (see Figure 5). As shown in Figure 4, the second wall 151 extends downwardly from the top surface 120 and terminates partway within the cover 114. The second wall 151 may be disposed in front of the first wall 138 with respect to the first inlet 132 and is spaced therefrom. Similarly, the third wall 152 may be spaced from the second wall 151, such that the third waIl 152 may be disposed in front of the first wall 138 with respect to the first inlet 132. The third wall 152 may extend downwardly from the top surface 120 of the cover 114 and terminate partway within the cover 114. In one embodiment, a lower wall embodied as a bottom plate 154 may be coupled to the cover 114 and may extend between a lower portion of the second and third walls 151, 152. The bottom plate 154 will be described in detail later in this section.

100251 A second passage 156 (see Figures 4 and 5) and a third passage 158 (see Figure 5) is defined between the second and third walls 151, 152 and the bottom plate 154, such that the second and third passages 156, 158 are in fluid communication with each other. Also, the second and third passages 156, 158 may together define a contiguous generally U-shaped passage within the cover 114 in fluid communication with the second inlet 146. The second and third passages 156, 158 are formed by two limbs of the U-shaped passage. The arrows in Figures 4 and 5 indicate the direction of flow of the second fluid through the second and third passages 156, 158 respectively.

10026] Referring to Figures 4 and 5, in one embodiment, the second separator arrangement 150 further includes obstacles disposed within the cover 114. In the illustrated embodiment, the obstacles are embodied as one or more projections extending outwardly from at least one of the second and third walls 151, 152.

In another embodiment as best seen in Figure 4, the projections 160 may extend from an upper wall or the top surface 120 of the cover 114 in addition to extending between the second andthird walls 151, 152 (see Figure 5). As shown in Figure 4, a height HI of the projections 160 is lesser than a height H2 at which the bottom plate 154 is attached to the second and third walls 151, 152.

10027] Further, the projections 160 are spaced apart from each other such that the second passage 156 is in fluid communication with the second inlet 146. In the current embodiment of the cover 114 as shown in Figures 4 and 5, three projections 160 are shown to be integral with the second wall 151 and the top surface 120 of the cover 114. The number of projections 160 extending from the second and third walls 151, 152, and/or the top surface 120 in the accompanying figures is merely exemplary in nature and hence, non-limiting of this disclosure.

The shape, size, spacing, location and number of the projections 160 may vary based on the application.

100281 Further, the obstacles are embodied as a plurality of baffles 162 spaced apart from each other and extending upwards from the bottom plate 154.

The baffles 162 may terminatc partway between the bottom plate 154 and the top surface 120 of the cover 114. The baffles 162 may be positioned in the second passage 156 defined within the cover 114. The baffles 162 and the bottom plate 154 are visible in Figure 4. The bottom plate 154 may include a plurality of holes 164 defined thereon. In one embodiment, the bottom plate 154 may be a unitary component coupled to the cover 114 using any known fastening means. In another embodiment, the bottom plate 154 may be integrated with the cover 114.

Accordingly, the bottom plate 154 may be made of a metal or polymer.

10029] Referring to Figure 4, the baffles 162 may be configured to alternate with the projections 160 extending from the second wall 151, the third wall 152 and/or the top surface 120 of the cover 114. The obstacles that are the baffles 162 together with the projections 160, disposed in the second passage 156 define a labyrinth or undulating type of flow path such that restriction may be offered to the second fluid flowing therethrough. The liquid particles present within the second fluid may separate therefrom and slide down a surface of the baffles 162 towards the bottom plate 154. The holes 164 on the bottom plate 154 may be configured to allow the separated liquid particles to pass therethrough and fall into the oil reservoir 112.

10030] The baffles 162 may be disposed in any combination with the projections 160. In various embodiments of the present disclosure, the arrangement of the baffles 162 with the projections 160 may change depending on specific requirements of an application such as, but not limited to, a level of separation required between the oil and the gas of the second fluid, or a pre-determined pressure drop in the second fluid across the projections 160.

10031] As shown in Figure 5, the second separator arrangement 150 further includes a filter element 168 disposed in the third passage 158. The filter element 168 may be configured to offer a secondary stage of separation for the liquid particles to separate from the second fluid. The filter element 168 may be for example, a fine porosity sponge, or any other commonly known filter having high liquid particle holding capacity to separate the liquid particles from the second fluid.

100321 The cover 114 may further include a second outlet 170 disposed in fluid communication with the third passage 158. The second outlet 170 may be configured to allow the separated gas to cgrcss the cover 114. In onc embodiment, the outlet may bc disposed in fluid communication with an air intake system of the engine 100, for example, a turbocharger inlet. Thus, the gas egressing from the second outlet 170 may be re-circulated for use within the engine 100. However, in an alternative embodiment, the second outlet 170 may be configured to allow egress of the gas into the atmosphere.

Tndustrial Applicability

100331 The working of the cover 114 will now be explained in detail. The first fluid may be received into the sloping passage 140 defined by the first separator arrangement 134 in the cover 114. The first fluid may flow over the first wall 138 and into the oil reservoir 112. The extended flow path offered by the sloping passage 140 may cause the entrained gas to be separated from the first fluid.

100341 The second fluid may be received into the second passage 156 defined by the second separator arrangement 150. The second fluid may flow through the labyrinth path formed between the projections 160 and the baffles 162. This may cause the liquid particles to be separated from the second fluid. The separated liquid particles may flow through the holes 164 provided on the bottom plate 154 into the oil rcscrvoir 112.

100351 Further, the second fluid may flow through the third passage 158 such that any remaining liquid particles may be separated from the second fluid by the filter element 168. In one embodiment, the separated liquid particles may flow into the oil reservoir 112 through the holes 164 provided on the bottom plate 154 extending in the third passage 158. The separated gas of the second fluid may then be discharged from the cover 114 through the second outlet 170.

100361 While aspects of the present disclosure have been particularly shown and described with reference to the embodiments above, it will be understood by those sld lied in the art that various additional embodiments may be contemplated by the modification of the disclosed vehicles, systems and methods without departing from the spirit and scope of what is disclosed. Such embodiments should be understood to fall within the scope of the present disclosure as determined based upon the claims and any equivalents thereof

Claims

Claims What is claimed is: 1. A cover for a reservoir of an engine, the cover comprising: a top surface; a plurality of sidewalls extending from the top surface and configwedto define abottom open end; a first separator arrangement comprising: aflninletconfiguredto receiveaflrstfluid;and a first outlet, wherein the first separator arrangement is configured for separation of entrained gas from the first fluid; and a second separator arrangement comprising: a second inlet configured to receive a second fluid; and a second outlet, wherein the second separator arrangement is configured for separation of liquid particles from the second fluid.
2. The cover of claim I, wherein the first separator arrangement further comprises: a sloping passage defining a tapering flow path; and an opening extending along a length of the sloping passage to define the first outlet.
3. The cover of claim 1, wherein the second separator arrangement further comprises a generally U-shaped passage.
4. The cover of claim 3, wherein one limb of the U-shaped passage further comprises obstacles.
5. The cover of claim 4, wherein at least a portion of the obstacles are upstanding from a lower wall and corresponding obstacles depend from an upper wall, the obstacles configured to define an undulating flow path.
6. The cover of claim 4, wherein another limb of the U-shaped passage further comprises a filter element.
7. The cover of claim 6, wherein the another limb further comprises a plurality of holes provided on at least a portion of a lower wall, the plurality of holes configured to allow the separated liquid particles to flow therethrough.
8. The cover of claim 6, wherein the another limb of the U-shaped passage is in fluid communication with the second outlet configured to allow the separated gas to egress the cover.
9. The cover of claim 2, wherein the sloping passage is positioned to slope towards the first inlet.
10. The cover of claim 1, wherein the first inlet is configured to be in fluid communication with an oil sump of the engine.
11. The cover of claim 1, wherein the second inlet is configured to be in fluid communication with a crankcase of the engine.
12. The cover of claim 1, wherein the cover is a unitary component.
13. The cover of claim 1, wherein the cover is made from one of a metal and a polymer.